SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2017 RAMADAN 2, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Palestinian Fierce clashes as Michelin shares prisoners end factions battle tyre tips during hunger strike in Libya; 52 dead the hot summer Imsak Fajr Shorook Duhr Asr Maghrib Isha 7 8 26 03:07 03:17 04:50 11:45 15:20 18:40 20:10 Kuwait outlook changes Min 31º Max 44º from ‘negative to stable’ High Tide 02:05 & 12:46 Low Tide Rating agency Moody’s affirms Aa2 rating 07:31 & 20:22 40 PAGES NO: 17241 150 FILS KUWAIT: Moody’s Investors’ Service yesterday changed Ramadan Kareem the rating outlook on Kuwait from ‘negative to stable’. Concurrently, the long-term issuer rating has been Month of Quran affirmed at Aa2. According to its Global Credit Research issued late last night, Moody’s decision to change the By Teresa Lesher outlook to stable from negative reflects Moody’s view that there are sufficient signs of Kuwait’s government’s ne of the distinguishing features of Islam is its institutional capacity to effectively implement its fiscal Holy Book, the first verses of which were and economic reform program to preserve creditwor- Orevealed in the month of Ramadan,1450 lunar thiness in the medium-term, which has the stated years ago (610 AD). During the course of 23 years, objective of diversifying and enhancing the economic Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received Quranic verses base and its budgetary revenues. as spoken addresses from the Creator - the Quran is The affirmation reflects Moody’s view that, despite considered the speech of God in the Arabic language. Kuwait’s slower fiscal and economic reform progress rel- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) then recited the verses so ative to other highly-rated peers in the Gulf in response that they could be memorized verbatim, and they to lower oil prices, the sovereign’s extraordinarily strong were also recorded in writing. balance sheet, very high wealth levels and vast hydro- Before he died, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) speci- carbon reserves continue to support a credit profile that fied the order of verses and the division of chapters, remains consistent with an Aa2 rating. according to divine instruction. The original Quran is Moody’s report says that Kuwait’s long-term and still preserved until today with precise pronunciation, short-term foreign-currency bond and deposit ceilings with the Arabic language developing to represent it remain unchanged at Aa2 and Prime-1, respectively. phonetically. It is the only revelation or divine book Kuwait’s long-term local-currency country risk ceiling that contains the pure words of God without being also remains unchanged at Aa2. The decision also rephrased by His messengers or any other human reflects Moody’s view that Kuwait’s institutional being. strength has improved to a degree that will help limit The Quran is addressed to all mankind. Sometimes downside risks to the rating. In addition, fiscal perform- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is specifically addressed ance in the past fiscal year proved slightly stronger than with instructions such as “They ask you about... Say [to expected at the time of the last rating action. them]...” Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is also encour- Positive fiscal reform steps undertaken by the aged and sometimes gently reproached in the Quran. KUWAIT: Kuwaitis shop for fruits at a market on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in downtown Kuwaiti government so far include the establishment Believers are addressed with specific instructions on Kuwait City yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 13 how to achieve both temporal and eternal success. And mankind in general is addressed with invitations to believe in God and mold life around that belief, and they are informed of the consequences of accepting or Ramadan begins, violently for some rejecting God’s invitation. The Quran’s purpose is to inform people of a reality RIYADH: The world’s 1.5 billion Muslims began observ- beyond their five senses and their perceptions of ing the holy fasting month of Ramadan yesterday, space and time, and to teach moral lessons and devel- blighted by conflict and bloodshed in countries ranging op spirituality. With the additional perspective it offers, from Afghanistan to Libya. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam during which Muslims are supposed to the Quran also invites people to adopt a lifestyle that devote themselves to praying, giving to charity and fast- ensures ultimate happiness and success. Finally, ing from dawn to dusk. It is sacred because tradition says through stories and instruction, it describes the beliefs the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed and practices that are essential to achieve that state. (PBUH) during that month. The verses of the Quran were revealed to address Although for many Ramadan is a time for families to particular situations, to relate historical information gather and break the fast with an iftar meal at sunset and to codify Islamic law. Common subjects are and socialize, this year it has been marked by violence. In descriptions of God, stories of prophets, descriptions Afghanistan’s eastern city of Khost, a Taleban car bomber of believers and disbelievers, promises of God’s killed 13 people in the first major attack at the start of rewards, especially Paradise, warnings about conse- the holy month targeting a CIA-funded militia group. In quences for rebellion toward God, including Hellfire, the Philippines, security forces intensified a bombing instructions for personal conduct, guidelines for famil- campaign in one of the country’s largest Muslim-majori- ial and social relations, and a framework for interna- ty cities where they have been battling Islamic militants. tional relations. The Islamic State group, which has been responsible Being an oral revelation first and foremost, devout for countless bloody attacks around the world, claimed Muslims learn how to recite the holy scripture as it was responsibility for shooting dead 29 Christians on a bus in revealed. Verbatim memorization is common and care central Egypt. Friday’s assault on the most populous is taken to reproduce the exact pronunciation and Arab state’s Coptic Christian minority community vocal duration of each letter. Arabic is a rich language, prompted retaliatory air strikes on jihadists in neighbor- and words of the Quran have great depth and breadth; ing Libya and an outpouring of condemnation. “With a therefore, they also study the meaning of the words, broken heart and tears in my eyes but after all I wish all verses and chapters, and there are encyclopedic works my friends a great Happy Ramadan and may God accept of this nature. In addition, Muslims study the occa- all your prayers and fasting for the good of our beloved JAKARTA: Muslim women perform an evening prayer during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Istiqlal sions of revelation, the relation of the holy text to Egypt,” Nabil Hakim, an Egyptian Copt who lives in the Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims Continued on Page 13 United States, posted on Facebook. Continued on Page 13 refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. — AP Kuwaiti company Stormy climate at G7 to pay $95 million TAORMINA: G7 nations yesterday hit dead- but also to combat “unfair trade practices” lock over climate change and strived to and help those left behind by globaliza- in US fraud case finesse divisions over trade, as US President tion, after Trump came to power vowing Donald Trump rebuffed pressure to toe the “America First”. WASHINGTON: A Kuwaiti logistics company has agreed collective line in the club of powerful Noted that the global economy remains to pay $95 million to resolve allegations that it inflated democracies. Trump tweeted that he patchy with downside risks, pledging “to prices and defrauded the US government for contracts would reveal his hand only next week as to use all policy tools” to sustain growth to feed American troops in Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan. The whether he will keep the United States in threatened stronger sanctions against Justice Department announced the settlement involv- the Paris accord, a global pact on curbing Russia over its annexation of Crimea if ing Agility Public Warehousing on Friday. The company carbon emissions that he vowed to jettison Moscow’s actions warrant it. Condemned also agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor theft of when campaigning for the White House. nuclear-armed North Korea’s recent missile government funds. The Group of Seven leading economies, tests and said they were ready to take new LONDON: British Airways planes are parked at Heathrow Airport in London. — AP Federal prosecutors said in an indictment that Agility in an extraordinary summit statement, measures as necessary after various rounds manipulated a complex funding formula to defraud the acknowledged that six members were of UN sanctions. Demanded support from government of at least $68 million. The indictment said committed to upholding the 2015 accord Russia and Iran for a peace process in Syria, IT outage causes chaos the company provided false invoices and statements to while the United States stood apart. “The and similarly called for an inclusive dia- a logistics center, bought high-priced food items and United States of America is in the process logue in Libya. LONDON: British Airways has cancelled all flight operations worldwide,” said BA, part then knowingly inflated prices. And it said the company of reviewing its policies on climate change After starting his first presidential trip its flights from London’s two biggest air- of Europe’s largest airline group IAG. “We received rebates and discounts from vendors that it did and on the Paris Agreement and thus is not abroad wreathed in smiles, Trump ended it ports until yesterday evening after a global are extremely sorry for the inconvenience not pass to the government as required by contract.